Class Descriptions: 3 Day Class

Children learn through play, therefore the focus of the 3-Day Class is to provide the appropriate play in which children can develop their social, cognitive, and emotional selves, along with further mastering their fine and gross motor skills. Building a child’s self esteem is also central to the SJPPNS philosophy. Self esteem and the ability to learn are interdependent. The 3-Day curriculum supports that philosophy.

In order to support the developmental growth of children, the 3-Day Class offers activities in the areas of Science/Sensory, Math, Art, Blocks, Literacy, Storytelling, Kitchen, Dramatic and Outdoor Play. We encourage exploration and experimentation in all these areas in order to build an early love of learning, the foundation for future learning. The class also provides a variety of field trips and classroom presentations to support some of the activities offered in the classroom.

The circle times at SJPPNS are designed to teach, share and provide music and movement activities. It is an opportunity for the teacher to begin to work on sitting, listening, raising hands, and group interaction skills. It is also a time to learn how to respect others when it is their time to share.

Social development is a very important part of the 3-Day Class. At this age the children begin to form friendships, and by the end of the class, there are some solid relationships formed amongst the children. This is the age where playing with other children supersedes playing with adults. Children work cooperatively in groups, or one-on-one, to engage in imaginary play and to achieve a goal.

A Day in The Life of a 3 Day Family

In our 3 day class, with a standard class size of 24 children, we generally have approximately 8 working parents each day. Parents are expected to work one day per week, with an additional few days per year of "on-call" days. Once assigned a workday in the beginning of the year, parents will work on the same day each week, with the ability to swap with other families to cover sick days, vacation, etc.

There are approximately 7 stations around the classroom, each focused on different educational areas. Working parents will be provided a schedule in which they will rotate to different work stations each week.

When you arrive on your assigned work-day, you will grab a work-card with detailed written instructions for your workstation including setup, activity time, cleanup, and other details. While in the classroom, you will focus at your workstation on working with all of the children that decide to experience the activity that has been designed by the classroom teacher. This is your chance to enable the kids to explore, get messy, and learn in an environment that encourages experiential education. While you remain at your workstation, your child(ren) will make their own choices on which stations to visit and which activities to engage in. Depending on their interests, some days you may see your child a lot, and other days you might not see them at all!

Working at a co-op means you are ready to engage with children and contribute to the school. Our school’s only paid employees are the teachers and a bookkeeper, which means that everything you see and love about our school, from it’s cleanliness, to it’s beautiful gardens and well-organized indoor facilities, are done by the families at our school. When you join our school, you join our community of families, dedicated to creating an outstanding preschool environment for our children.

Sample 3-Day Class Schedule

8:45AM

Working and on-call parents should arrive and prepare for the day’s activities. The teacher will provide activities and supplies at each station and instructions to the working parents on what they will be doing with the children.

9:00AM

Remaining families arrive, ready to start the day.

9:10AM

Morning Time. This is when we welcome the day with a hello song, a story, and a chance for the children to share with their classmates the activity that their parent will be in charge of for the day.

9:25AM

Exploration and Activity Time. Parents will work at their assigned stations while the children explore freely inside and outside, choosing for themselves which stations and activities they want to experience. (Outside play is subject to weather conditions and/or health precautions.)

10:35AM

Clean up Time. Children will work with the parents to help put away toys, and parents, according to their work-cards, will work to clean and sanitize the necessary areas.

10:50AM

Circle Time #1 Children will be broken into two groups, and while one group goes inside to experience circle time, the other group will enjoy free-play outside. Parents will be assigned either as outside monitors, or to help with circle time, according to their work-cards.

11:10AM

Circle Time #2

11:30AM

Goodbye Time. Working parents complete their work-card tasks, and everyone says farewell until the next class!

11:35AM

Conference Time. This is a time for the working parents to meet with the teacher for 10 minutes to discuss the successes and challenges of the day.